197 



should be to increase our already excellent Library, by the purchase 

 of such works as we still require, so far as our means will enable us. 

 Numerous valuable works have been purchased during the year, but 

 many, which may be considered indispensable working books, are 

 still wanting. 



But possessing, as I have already observed, an excellent Library, 

 are we taking every possible care of it ? In my opinion we are not. 

 When I look at the rows of volumes, — many of them well, even hand- 

 somely, bound, — and know that they stand there, month after month, 

 exposed to the constant accumulation of London smut, the dirtiest of 

 all dirt, I feel that we are not taking that care of our books that 

 I think we could and ought to do. I think all our books should be 

 protected by glazed doors, and this might be accomplished by a 

 reasonable, and not a large, outlay ; we don't require carving and 

 gilding, rich mouldings, or varnished rosewood, but we want, in my 

 opinion, either our shelves fitted with proper doors, or a set of new, 

 but plain cases made, in order that our treasures may not be dete- 

 riorated in value through neglect. When these requirements are 

 obtained, and the shelves properly lettered or numbered, our Librarian 

 can so arrange and catalogue the books that at a moment's notice he 

 can lay his hand upon any volume that may be required ; this I 

 apprehend is not the case now. 



Meetings of the Society. 



It is a circumstance upon which we may congratulate ourselves that 

 our Monthly Meetings are so numerously attended ; in this respect 

 our Society forms a marked contrast to many others ; during the last 

 year the attendance has quite equalled, if not exceeded, that at any 

 previous time. A reference to our ' Proceedings ' will show that many 

 valuable shoi't papers have been read that do not appear in our 

 * Transactions ;' and many valuable suggestions upon economic En- 

 tomology will be found therein. The numerous exhibitions of rare 

 species are in themselves of great importance, since they furnish va- 

 luable data as to first discoveries of species, or, in many cases, of redis- 

 coveries of species perhaps hitherto deemed foreign interpolaiions in 

 to our Fauna. I cannot omit this opportunity of expressing an opinion 

 as to the 'Journal of Proceedings,' and I think I am not the only one 

 who holds it ; I believe that at no previous period of the existence of 

 this Society were the 'Proceedings' reported in so efficient and com- 

 prehensive a form. 



